Survivors and relatives gather to remember RI nightclub fire 10 years later

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WEST WARWICK, R.I. (AP) — At least 100 survivors and family members of the 100 people killed in a Rhode Island nightclub fire have come to a memorial service to pay tribute on the 10th anniversary of the disaster.

Many who arrived at an outdoor site in bitter cold and snow on Sunday brought flowers and balloons to decorate crosses representing each of the victims. Some cried.

The anniversary of the blaze is Wednesday. The fire broke out when pyrotechnics for the rock band Great White ignited flammable packing foam that had been installed in the club as soundproofing.

One survivor who attended was Walter Castle Jr. who suffered third-degree burns in his lungs and throat. He says memories of the fire and the loss of many friends have been very tough.

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001-v-32-(Martin Di Caro, AP correspondent)--Survivors and family members of the 100 people killed in a Rhode Island nightclub fire are observing the 10th anniversary of the blaze with a Sunday afternoon service. (17 Feb 2013)

<<CUT *001 (02/17/13)>> 00:32

APPHOTO NY108: FILE- This Feb. 20, 2004, file photo, shows a makeshift memorial at the former site of The Station nightclub, marking the one-year anniversary of a fire that killed 100 people at the club in West Warwick, R.I. Survivors and family members of the 100 people killed in a Rhode Island nightclub fire are observing the 10th anniversary of the blaze, which is Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, with a memorial service scheduled for Sunday. (AP Photo/Gretchen Ertl, Pool, File) (20 Feb 2004)